Oldest search and rescue Land Rover on final tour

​The oldest Land Rover to be used within Mountain Rescue England and Wales is going on a final tour before being replaced.

Ada, as the vehicle is known by the volunteers, has been in service on Dartmoor for 16 years, having previously used by Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team since 1993.

The vehicle has been deployed to more than 400 call-outs and has been used during the Ten Tors challenge events since 2008.

Speaking to BBC Radio Devon, Matt Holland, from North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team, said the best word to describe the Land Rover was a "beast".

"It's quite an enormous vehicle because it's heavily modified to handle what Dartmoor throws at it.

"The total height is somewhere around 2.3m (7.54ft) so she's a bit of a beast when on the road."

He continued: "Over her years she has been deployed on so many call-outs and been to loads of events...

"She has attended the disposal and evacuation of two World War Two devices in Exeter and Plymouth as well recently."

He added it would be "a sad day and farewell to Ada" and explained "she has helped save many lives in her years of service".

The Land Rover was named after Ada Hillard, a benefactor of several Lake District teams and charities, who donated the funds to Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team in 1993 to purchase the vehicle.

Correction 8 December: The story initially stated the vehicle had been in service on Dartmoor for 32 years but it had been in service for a total of 32 years - 16 on Dartmoor and previously with Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team. The story also said it was the oldest Land Rover used by any search and rescue service in England but it was the oldest used with Mountain Rescue England and Wales.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].